Resistance Motor for Exercise Apparatus

ABSTRACT

A resistance motor for an exercise apparatus includes a housing and an internal gear unit. The housing includes a casing body and a casing cover coupled with the casing body to define a receiving cavity therewithin. The internal gear unit includes an output wheel operatively supported by the casing body, a worm gear, a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear. The worm gear, the first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are supported in the receiving cavity. The worm gear, the first gear, the second gear, the third gear, and the output wheel are operatively engaged in a sequent order. The output wheel, which has the largest diameter, is located above the second gear and the third gear, such that the position of the output wheel is higher than the positions of the second gear and the third gear.

CROSS REFERENCE OF RELATED APPLICATION

This is a non-provisional application that claims priority to Chinese Patent Application, application number CN 201420347863.1, filed Jun. 26, 2014.

NOTICE OF COPYRIGHT

A portion of the disclosure of this patent document contains material which is subject to copyright protection. The copyright owner has no objection to any reproduction by anyone of the patent disclosure, as it appears in the United States Patent and Trademark Office patent files or records, but otherwise reserves all copyright rights whatsoever.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to an exercise apparatus, and more particular to a resistance motor for an exercise apparatus, which improves a load and service life span of the resistance motor.

2. Description of Related Arts

A conventional resistance motor generally comprises an output wheel and a potentiometer, wherein a force bearing point of the output wheel is exerted at the shaft of the potentiometer. However, the potentiometer is designed not to support any force exerted thereto during the rotation of the output wheel. As a result, the potentiometer will be easily damaged when the shaft of the potentiometer serves as the bearing force point, so as to shorten the service life span of the resistance motor. In addition, the conventional resistance motor further comprises a housing that houses the output wheel therein, wherein the housing comprises a casing body and a casing cover coupled with each other. In particular, only the casing body is coupled at a base that the casing cover only serves as a cover to enclose the gears within the casing body. In other words, the base only supports the casing body but not the casing cover. The major drawback of the housing is that when the stress is generated by the resistance motor, the stress cannot be evenly distributed to the casing body and the casing cover, such that the housing will be distorted easily. Furthermore, the power transmission gear is engaged between two output gears of the output wheel. Due to the limited installation space and the restricted application, the array of the gears cannot be altered and the thickness of each gear cannot be increased. The tooth profile of the gear cannot be modified to enhance the speed ratio under a preset gear configuration. In other words, the loading capacity of the gear of the resistance motor will be very limited. When the installation of other components of the exercise apparatus is improper or poor, the tensile force of the resistance motor will be significantly increased. As a result, the gears in the resistance motor will be permanently damaged.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The invention is advantageous in that it provides a resistance motor for an exercise apparatus, which enhances the strength of the output shaft via a shaft sleeve, improves an array of the gears, and re-configures the housing structure, so as to enhance the load of the resistance motor and to prolong the service life span thereof.

Additional advantages and features of the invention will become apparent from the description which follows, and may be realized by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particular point out in the appended claims.

According to the present invention, the foregoing and other objects and advantages are attained by a resistance motor for an exercise apparatus, comprising a housing and an internal gear unit. The housing comprises a casing body and a casing cover coupled with the casing body to define a receiving cavity within the casing body and the casing cover. The internal gear unit comprises an output wheel operatively supported by the casing body, a worm gear, a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear. The worm gear, the first gear, the second gear, and the third gear are supported in the receiving cavity. In particular, the worm gear, the first gear, the second gear, the third gear, and the output wheel are operatively engaged in a sequent order. The output wheel, which has the largest diameter, is located above the second gear and the third gear, such that the position of the output wheel is higher than the positions of the second gear and the third gear.

Another advantage of the invention is that a shaft sleeve is extended from the casing body to support a shaft of the potentiometer, and a supporting member is extended from the output wheel to couple with the shaft sleeve so as to support the output wheel.

Another advantage of the invention is that bottom portions of the casing body and the casing cover are coupled with each other, via a screw, to form a base portion of the housing, such that the base portion of the housing can be mounted on a base support.

Another advantage of the invention is shown as follows.

Since the gear arrangement of the output wheel, the second gear, and the third gear is re-configured to re-arrange the positions thereof, the thickness of each gear and the gear coefficient can be increased under the conditions of limited installation space and motor reduction ratio. In other words, such gear arrangement will greatly enhance the loading capacity to prevent the damage of the internal gear unit, especially when the tensile force of the resistance motor is increased due to the poor or improper installation of other components of the exercise apparatus. As a result, the service life span of the resistance motor will be significantly prolonged. Furthermore, the shaft sleeve and the supporting member matching with each other will serve as a force bearing point to support the shaft of the potentiometer and the output wheel so as to minimize the supporting force exerted at the shaft of the potentiometer when it is rotated. As a result, the service life span of the potentiometer will be significantly prolonged. It is worth mentioning that the shaft of the potentiometer is also protected by the shaft sleeve to enhance the strength of the shaft so as to prevent the distortion of the shaft. In addition, the base portion of the housing is constructed by the bottom portions of the casing body and the casing cover. Therefore, the connection portion between the casing body and the casing cover will increase the strength at least two times of the conventional housing having the built-in base support at one half casing, so as to minimize the distortion of the housing of the present invention.

Still further objects and advantages will become apparent from a consideration of the ensuing description and drawings.

These and other objectives, features, and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following detailed description, the accompanying drawings, and the appended claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a sectional view of a resistance motor for an exercise apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the resistance motor according to the above preferred embodiment of the present invention, illustrating the array of the internal gears of the resistance motor.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The following description is disclosed to enable any person skilled in the art to make and use the present invention. Preferred embodiments are provided in the following description only as examples and modifications will be apparent to those skilled in the art. The general principles defined in the following description would be applied to other embodiments, alternatives, modifications, equivalents, and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2 of the drawings, a resistance motor for an exercise apparatus according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the resistance motor comprises a housing and an internal gear unit. The housing, which is preferably made of durable material such as plastic, comprises a casing body 1 and a casing cover 2 coupled with the casing body 1 to define a receiving cavity within the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2. The internal gear unit comprises an output wheel 3 operatively supported by the casing body 1, a worm gear 4, a first gear 5, a second gear 6, and a third gear 7. Accordingly, the worm gear 4, the first gear 5, the second gear 6, and the third gear 7 are supported in the receiving cavity. In particular, the worm gear 4, the first gear 5, the second gear 6, the third gear 7, and the output wheel 3 are operatively engaged with each other in a sequent order. The output wheel 3, which has the largest diameter, is located above the second gear 6 and the third gear 7, such that the position of the output wheel 3 is higher than the positions of the second gear 6 and the third gear 7. Such array of gear configuration will enable each gear to increase its thickness and will enhance the gear coefficient under the conditions of limited installation space and motor reduction ratio. Even though there is a poor or improper installation of other components of the exercise apparatus to increase the tensile force of the resistance motor, the damage of the gears in the resistance motor will be minimized so as to enhance the loading capacity of the resistance motor and to prolong the service life span thereof.

According to the preferred embodiment, the resistance motor further comprises a potentiometer 8, having a shaft, supported at the casing body 1 of the housing, a shaft sleeve 11 extended from the casing body 1 into the receiving cavity to support the output wheel 3, and a supporting member 31 extended from the output wheel 3 to couple with the shaft sleeve 11. Preferably, the shaft sleeve 11 is integrally extended from the casing body 1 at a position that the shaft of the potentiometer 8 is coaxially extended within the shaft sleeve 11. In other words, the shaft sleeve 11, having a tubular shape, is integrated with the casing body 1 and is non-rotatable, such that when the shaft is rotatably passed through the shaft sleeve 11, the shaft sleeve 11 will reinforce the casing body 1 at an area around the shaft. The supporting member 31 has a tubular shape integrally and coaxially extended from the output wheel 3 at a position that the supporting member 31 is coaxially received in the shaft sleeve 11, wherein the shaft is coupled at the supporting member 31 to drive the output wheel 3 to rotate. In particular, the supporting member 31 is rotatably coupled within the shaft sleeve 11 to ensure the shaft to extend and couple with the output wheel 3. Therefore, the supporting member 31 is coupled with the shaft sleeve 11 at the casing body 1 to enable the output wheel 3 to be coupled with the shaft of the potentiometer 8 and to ensure the shaft and the output wheel 3 to be supported by the shaft sleeve 11 and the supporting member 31. In other words, the shaft sleeve 11 and the supporting member 31 serve as a force bearing point to support the output wheel 3. Therefore, when the shaft of the potentiometer 8 is driven to rotate, the shaft thereof will only drive the output wheel 3 to rotate but not support weight of the output wheel 3. As a result, the bearing force will not exert to the shaft of the potentiometer 8, so as to prolong the service life span of the potentiometer 8. The bearing force will evenly distribute to the housing through the shaft sleeve 11.

According to the preferred embodiment, each of the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2 has a base portion, wherein when the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2 is coupled with each other, preferably via a screw, the bottom portions of the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2 form a base portion of the housing, such that the base portion of the housing is mounted on a base support. In other words, the connection portion between the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2 will include the connection between the bottom portions thereof. Therefore, during the operation of the resistance motor, the forces generated by the shaft and the internal gear units will be evenly distributed to the base portion of the housing, i.e. the bottom portions of the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2, so as to minimize the distortion of the housing. It is worth mentioning that the connection portion between the casing body 1 and the casing cover 2 will increase the strength at least two times of the conventional housing having the built-in base support at one half casing.

One skilled in the art will understand that the embodiment of the present invention as shown in the drawings and described above is exemplary only and not intended to be limiting. It will thus be seen that the objects of the present invention have been fully and effectively accomplished. The embodiments have been shown and described for the purposes of illustrating the functional and structural principles of the present invention and is subject to change without departure from such principles. Therefore, this invention includes all modifications encompassed within the spirit and scope of the following claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A resistance motor for an exercise apparatus, comprising: a housing having a receiving cavity; a potentiometer, having a shaft, supported at said housing; and an internal gear unit which comprises an output wheel operatively coupled with said shaft, a worm gear, a first gear, a second gear, and a third gear, wherein said worm gear, said first gear, said second gear, and said third gear are supported in said receiving cavity, wherein said output wheel, which has the largest diameter, is located above said second gear and said third gear, such that a position of said output wheel is higher than positions of said second gear and said third gear.
 2. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 1, wherein said worm gear, said first gear, said second gear, and said third gear and said output wheel are operatively engaged with each other in a sequent order.
 3. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 1, wherein said housing comprises a casing body and a casing cover coupled with each other to define said receiving cavity therewithin, wherein said shaft of said potentiometer and said output wheel are supported at said casing body.
 4. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 2, wherein said housing comprises a casing body and a casing cover coupled with each other to define said receiving cavity therewithin, wherein said shaft of said potentiometer and said output wheel are supported at said casing body.
 5. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 3, wherein bottom portions of said casing body and said casing cover are coupled with each other to form a base portion of said housing for evenly distributing forces generated by said shaft and said internal gear unit.
 6. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 4, wherein bottom portions of said casing body and said casing cover are coupled with each other to form a base portion of said housing for evenly distributing forces generated by said shaft and said internal gear unit.
 7. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 1, further comprising a shaft sleeve extended from said housing into said receiving cavity thereof to support said output wheel, wherein said shaft of said potentiometer is extended within said shaft sleeve.
 8. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 3, further comprising a shaft sleeve extended from said housing into said receiving cavity thereof to support said output wheel, wherein said shaft of said potentiometer is extended within said shaft sleeve.
 9. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 6, further comprising a shaft sleeve extended from said housing into said receiving cavity thereof to support said output wheel, wherein said shaft of said potentiometer is extended within said shaft sleeve.
 10. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 8, wherein said shaft sleeve is integrally extended from said casing body and is non-rotatable, such that when said shaft is rotatably passed through said shaft sleeve, said shaft sleeve reinforces said casing body at an area around said shaft.
 11. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 9, wherein said shaft sleeve is integrally extended from said casing body and is non-rotatable, such that when said shaft is rotatably passed through said shaft sleeve, said shaft sleeve reinforces said casing body at an area around said shaft.
 12. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 7, further comprising a supporting member coaxially extended from said output wheel, wherein said supporting member is rotatably coupled with said shaft sleeve so as to serve as a force bearing point to support said output wheel when said shaft is rotated.
 13. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 9, further comprising a supporting member coaxially extended from said output wheel, wherein said supporting member is rotatably coupled with said shaft sleeve so as to serve as a force bearing point to support said output wheel when said shaft is rotated.
 14. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 11, further comprising a supporting member coaxially extended from said output wheel, wherein said supporting member is rotatably coupled with said shaft sleeve so as to serve as a force bearing point to support said output wheel when said shaft is rotated.
 15. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 12, wherein said supporting member has a tubular shape integrally extended from said output wheel to couple with said shaft.
 16. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 13, wherein said supporting member has a tubular shape integrally extended from said output wheel to couple with said shaft.
 17. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 14, wherein said supporting member has a tubular shape integrally extended from said output wheel to couple with said shaft.
 18. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 15, wherein said supporting member is rotatably received in said shaft sleeve to ensure said output wheel to be coupled with said shaft.
 19. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 16, wherein said supporting member is rotatably received in said shaft sleeve to ensure said output wheel to be coupled with said shaft.
 20. The resistance motor, as recited in claim 17, wherein said supporting member is rotatably received in said shaft sleeve to ensure said output wheel to be coupled with said shaft. 